26 Simple ways to lower your electricity bill

Helen Williams

It is a fact of life that no economy runs successfully without sufficient and stable power supply.

However, most consumers’ electricity bills, whether on prepayment or estimated billing system, especially in the developing economies as Nigeria’s, are said to be too damn high in recent times.

And electricity consumers complain about their unpleasant experiences with the service providers most of the time.

That is why almost everyone is seeking ways to go green and save a little green these days because a major source of expenditure for most consumers is their electricity bill.

According to conserve-energy-future.com, the following 26 tips should help you to lower your energy bills:

1. Install solar panels: This option may not be for everyone for its somewhat costly measures, but there’s nothing better than running on solar power for the environment and for your wallet. If you wish to cut your energy savings by more than 75%, this is the way to go.
2. Get a windmill: Well, this one might be tricky, but if you’re in a position to do this, planet earth will give you big thumbs up. Naturally created energy is not only good for the environment, but once set up cost is accounted for, it costs you nothing.
3. Keep your temperature steady: Set your thermostat two degrees lower in the winter and two degrees higher in the summer. 72-74 degrees in the summer and 70-72 degrees in winter are suggested temperatures to set your thermostat to.
4. Check out energy saving apps: There are suitable apps designed for specific purposes these days. So, apps like kill-ur-watts will not only keep track of how much energy you use, but give tips, advice, and resources to saving money each month on your energy bill.
5. Insulate your water heater: If you have one, adding a little extra love around your water heater can return huge savings. It is estimated your fridge and water heater are the prime energy suckers in the home.
6. Tune up your fridge: Having your fridge receive regular maintenance checks will keep the coils running clean, saving you a lot of money a year.
7. Install a low-flow restrictor: Suppressing the amount of water used will help your hot water heater from sucking more energy out of your pocket.
8. Install dimmer switches: Adjusting the amount of light you need will not only set a certain mood, but will allow you to use the most appropriate amount of energy.
9. Wash clothes on cold: When you add hot water to anything, you’re enlisting the help of your water heater.
10. Use effective cook ware: Glass cookware cooks better than aluminum or others.
11. Thaw food: Having food thawed before cooking, will not only save time, but help reduce the amount of heat it takes to fully cook.
12. Regularly maintain your AC: Keeping your AC (air-conditioner) tuned and clean will ensure it runs as efficiently as possible.
13. Change your air filters regularly: Dirty air filters clog free flowing air, and make your AC work harder.
14. Close your chimney flue: If you have a wood-burning fireplace, make sure it is closed in the summer.
15. Air dry dishes: Instead of running the dishwasher, try air drying.
16. Insulate your garage door: Adding insulation to your garage door will keep heat and cool air in.
17. Check your weather strips: Energy savings could be seeping right out the front door with air leaks. Checking or replacing worn weather strips can help save on energy costs.
18. Clean your windows: Allowing as much natural sun to come through will heat up the house.
19. Cook on a fire pit: Barbequing is a great past time. However, try doing Dutch-oven cooking once in a while.
20. Reduce microwave use: If you can eat more salads, fruits, and vegetables, you are not only being healthier, using little energy to cook.
21. Use fans over air-conditioner: If you can manage delaying turning on the AC, go for it. Same goes in the winter months. Use floor heaters and blankets.
22. Turn off the lights: When you leave a room, turn off the lights immediately!
23. Open windows: In the summer, opening windows in the early morning will cool the house without cranking the air-conditioning yet.
24. Turn off the fans: If your AC is running, then, there is no need to have two energy sources functioning at the same time.
25. Hang dry clothes: If possible, hang dry towels, sheets, and other items that take a lot of energy to dry. Clothes dryer uses a lot of energy and produces heat. Use sunlight to dry your clothes.

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